Built from 1962-1965 by the Peel Engineering Company on the Isle of Man, the P50 is recognised by Guinness World Records as the the world’s smallest production car.

Powered by a tiny 50cc engine, the 3-wheeler is road legal in the UK as a 3-wheel moped. This is a “Bamby” P50 reproduction - designed by Alan Evans, the owner of Bamby Cars.

Made famous when Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson drove it through the BBC building, original P50s are extremely rare. This is where the Bamby replicas come in. Unlike other modern recreations that stray from the original plan and even feature electric power, the Bamby cars stuck closely to the original design, with just a few improvements to make the car more usable and to pass modern regulations.

Construction of this vehicle was started by Alan Evans, the owner of Bamby Cars, before being finished by an enthusiast. It has been kept garaged by the current owners, and they are only letting it go now due to poor health.

The car has been examined and passed by an IVA/MSVA Examiner and registered with the DVLA, so is fully road-legal for use in the UK (excluding motorways). Since being finished and registered, it has been kept dry-stored and hardly used at all. Effectively, this is a newly-built vehicle.

As this P50 was first registered for the road in 2019 and has hardly been used since then, naturally there isn’t much in the way of a paperwork file. But all of the essential paperwork for a vehicle like this is present and correct.

So as well as the current V5, there is also a ‘Certificate of Newness’ from Bamby Cars, signed by A. A. Evans, the DVLA certificate of entitlement for the private registration (which goes with the car) and confirmation of the IVA/MSVA status from the examiner.

Inside, the P50 is naturally quite spartan, but is roomier than you may imagine. There’s a technique to getting in and out, but our photographer is 6-feet tall and managed to get in without much trouble.

All of the cabin elements are in excellent condition, the large, slender steering wheel is a lovely ivory colour and feels great to use. The floor is protected with dimpled rubber mats and the seat is trimmed in cream vinyl with a moss green fabric to the face. 

The cabin has a single door, on the left-hand side, and on the right-hand side is a sliding window for ventilation. On the simple dash there is a digital odometer, which wasn’t necessary for  IVA/MSVA approval, but the owner felt it would be useful. The odometer has not yet been set up as the vehicle has been in dry-storage since the build was finished.

Finished is a gorgeous sky blue with white wheels, white trim and chrome brightwork, this P50  is a great looking, fun vehicle. According to the owner, it draws crowds wherever it goes, so it’s not for the shy-and-retiring type!

It’s certainly in excellent condition, the fibreglass shell and paintwork looks excellent and has a lovely, glossy finish. One of the upgrades Bamby made to the original P50 was to fit a safety glass windscreen to comply with modern safety regulations.

All of the lights work and are in excellent condition, as is the frame when you look under the vehicle. Painted black, it has no signs of wear or corrosion at all. The wheels are similarly clean and look very good, shod with new tyres that have clearly seen hardly any use.

Mechanically, the Bamby runs a very similar set-up to the original Peel P50, but with some key updates for safety and ease of use. So the engine is still a 50cc unit, but a much more modern Lifan unit mated to a centrifugal clutch and a four speed gearbox. 

It’s a simple and reliable setup that makes maintenance and servicing very easy and affordable. To prevent overheating, the bodywork around the engine is based on the Mk2 Reel P50, which deleted the side grille design for better cooling.

Another upgrade that Bamby made was to fit disc brakes, providing much more confidence for the driver in modern traffic. Other upgrades to the drivetrain in this reproduction are a rack-and-pinion steering system and a stainless steel exhaust.

Mechanically the vehicle is basically brand new, and the owner assures us it runs very well with no issues at all.

If you’re the kind of person that thinks classic cars should be fun – and why wouldn’t you be – then you can’t help but fall in love with the Peel P50. Firstly, it’s a record-breaker, officially the world’s smallest production car. 

The little 50cc engine makes it good for a 28 mph top speed – perfect for tootling around town, even with modern traffic. It’s the kind of vehicle that engenders smiles and cried of approval wherever you go. At a classic car show or meet, it’s a scene-stealer. 

The fact that this reproduction has been so well cared for since it was built, and that the owner has ensured it is fully road legal, really does make it a very rare thing indeed. And it’s finished very nicely, the blue and white colour scheme suiting it perfectly.

If you’re looking for something rare, historically important and most of all fun to add to your collection, you really can’t go wrong with this little gem.